Interactive television program guide system having multiple devices within a household

ABSTRACT

An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. The system coordinates the operation of the interactive television program guides so that the program guide settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television program guide are used by the other interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. The operation of applications such as web browser applications, home shopping applications, home banking applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/179,410, filed Jul. 11, 2005, which is continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/356,161, filed Jul. 16, 1999 now abandoned,which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No.60/093,292, filed Jul. 17, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to interactive television program guides, andmore particularly, to techniques for providing interactive televisionprogram guide functionality on multiple devices within a household.

Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide viewers witha large number of television channels. Viewers have traditionallyconsulted printed television program schedules to determine the programsbeing broadcast at a particular time. More recently, interactiveelectronic television program guides have been developed that allowtelevision program information to be displayed on a viewer's television.

Interactive television program guides are typically implemented onset-top boxes. Such programs guides allow users to view televisionprogram listings in different display formats. For example, a user mayinstruct the program guide to display a grid of program listingsorganized in a channel-ordered or a time-ordered list. Users may alsosearch or sort program listings by theme (e.g., movies, sports, etc.) orby title (i.e., alphabetically). A user may obtain additionalinformation for a program by placing a highlight region on a desiredprogram listing and pressing an “info” button.

Households with children are concerned with protecting children from thepotentially objectionable adult content contained in the broad range ofprograms that are currently available. Some program guides allow usersto block channels or programs using a parental control function. Forexample, a user may instruct the program guide to block access tochannels that provide adult programs. A user must enter a password toregain access to such adult channels.

Another feature available on some program guides is the ability for thecable operator to send messages such as billing information to the user.A user may also have the ability to set reminders that will alert theuser when a preselected program is about to begin or that willautomatically tune the user's set-top box to the channel of thepreselected program when the program is about to begin. A user may havethe ability to establish a list of favorite channels. All of theseprogram guide settings and features are specific to the user's set-topbox.

Families often have multiple televisions and set-top boxes placedthroughout the household. A family's household even may include multiplehomes. Because there is no coordination between the program guidesrunning on each of the various set-top boxes in the household, if a useradjusts the settings for a program guide on one set-top box, thesesettings are not communicated to the program guides on any of the otherset-top boxes in the household. If a parent wants to restrict access tocertain channels on all the televisions in the household, the parentmust adjust the parental control settings on each set-top boxindividually. Reminders and favorite channel settings must similarly beset for each program guide separately if a user desires to have suchsettings be in effect throughout the household. Messages sent from thecable operator can only be sent to a particular set-top box. Some cablesystem subscriber management systems can allow a cable operator tomanage all cable boxes within a home (i.e. manage billing for individuallocations within a home). However, such systems do not allow userinteraction with the cable operator.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a programguide system that allows a user to adjust to the user settings of aplurality of program guides at different locations within a householdfrom a single location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished inaccordance with the principles of the present invention by providing aninteractive television program guide system for a household in whichmultiple interactive television program guides within the household arecoordinated. In a typical system, various users in the household usevarious pieces of user television equipment (also called user televisionequipment devices). An interactive television program guide isimplemented on each piece of user television equipment. Typical usertelevision equipment may be a set-top box on which a program guideapplication and non-program-guide applications run, a videocassetterecorder connected to the set-top box for recording television programs,and a television on which the program guide application may displayvarious program guide display screens and the non-program-guideapplications may display various non-program-guide display screens.Other suitable types of user television equipment may be based onpersonal computer televisions (PC/TVs) or advanced television receiverssuch as high-definition television (HDTV) receivers.

Each piece of user television equipment may be located in a differentpart of the home. For example, one piece of equipment may be located inthe parents' bedroom. Another piece of equipment may be located in achild's bedroom. Additional pieces of equipment may be located in afamily room, kitchen, living room, etc.

Typical program guide features that may be provided by the programguides of this invention implemented on the user television equipmentinclude features related to setting program reminders, profiles, programrecording features, messaging features, favorites features, parentalcontrol features, program guide set up features (e.g., video displaysettings, language settings, etc.), and other suitable program guidefeatures. The system coordinates operation of the program guides sothat, for example, a user may adjust his favorite channel settings on aprogram guide operating in the living room and those settings will beeffective on the program guide operating in the master bedroom and maytherefore be used by that program guide.

A parent may adjust parental control settings using the program guide inthe parents' room and the system may apply those settings to all programguides in the household. Parents may use the parental control feature tocontrol the viewing of their children even though the children may beviewing television using multiple user television equipment devices. Forexample, parents may establish parental controls to lock variousprograms and services from a master location and the system will applythese parental controls to the various pieces of user televisionequipment throughout the household. The ability to establish favoritechannels, to set reminders, and to control other program guide settingsat one location and to have those settings applied to multiple locationsthroughout the household may be used by both the parents and theirchildren.

A user may adjust his favorite settings on a program guide in the familyroom and may direct the system to apply those settings to the programguides in the family room and the living room. A child may set remindersfor certain programs using the program guide in the family room and maydirect the system to apply those settings only to the program guiderunning in that child's bedroom. A user may select a program forrecording using a program guide in the living room and may request thatthe videocassette recorder in the family room be used to record theselected program. A user may receive messages from a cable systemoperator and may direct the system to make certain types of thosemessages available to the program guide located in all rooms but thechildren's room. A user may adjust language or audio settings using oneprogram guide and have those settings apply globally.

As these examples serve to illustrate, the settings for any suitableprogram guide features may be adjusted using the program guide at onelocation in a household and applied by the system to selected otherprogram guides in the household.

The program guides may be linked using any suitable topologies andcommunication protocols. For example, the various pieces of usertelevision equipment may be interconnected using a tree, bus or ringtopology. One piece of user television equipment may be designated as aprimary device and other pieces of user television equipment may bedesignated as secondary devices. The primary and secondary devices maybe connected in a star arrangement. A remote server may be used toimplement certain program guide features and the pieces of usertelevision equipment in the home may act as clients.

If desired, non-program-guide applications may be implemented on theuser television equipment. Such non-program-guide applications mayinclude, for example, a web browser application, a home shoppingapplication, a game application, an e-mail application, a chatapplication, a banking application, etc. These applications may beimplemented on a set-top box within the user television equipment. Theuser may adjust the settings of such a non-program-guide application atone set-top box. The system coordinates the operation of the variousset-top boxes so that the adjusted settings may be used by similarapplications running on other set-top boxes in the household.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an interactive television program guide system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of steps involved in adjusting user settings andapplying those adjustments to desired locations in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a system in which multiple interactive televisionprogram guides are implemented in a star configuration accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 4 a is a diagram of a system in which multiple interactivetelevision program guides are implemented in a tree configuration inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 b is a diagram of a system in which multiple interactivetelevision program guides are implemented in a ring configuration inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 c is a diagram of a system in which multiple interactivetelevision program guides are implemented in a bus configuration inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of another system in which multiple interactivetelevision program guides are implemented in a client-serverconfiguration in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a system in which multiple interactive televisionprogram guides are implemented in a client-server configuration and inwhich the set-top-box acts as the server in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 a is a diagram of a system similar to the system of FIG. 1 inwhich multiple interactive television program guides are implemented ina neighborhood node configuration in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 b is a diagram of a system similar to the system of FIG. 1showing how servers may be located at network nodes in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 7 c is a diagram of a system similar to the system of FIG. 1showing how homes may be connected by modem links in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 d is a diagram of a system similar to the system of FIG. 1showing how homes may be connected via a server in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a system in which multiple interactive televisionprogram guides are implemented and in which each such guide uses areal-time communications device connected to the Internet in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a system in which multiple interactive televisionprogram guides are implemented with an occasional return pathcommunications device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of illustrative user television equipment with anoptional data input device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a depiction of an illustrative location selection screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a depiction of an illustrative main menu screen in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a depiction of another illustrative location selection screenin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an illustrativeapproach for selecting a location for which to adjust settings inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a depiction of an illustrative parental control passwordscreen and an illustrative corresponding parental control access deniedscreen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of an illustrative parental control screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an illustrativeapproach for applying parental controls in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 a is a depiction of an illustrative parental controls setchannels screen in which selected channels are blocked in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 18 b is a depiction of an illustrative parental controls setchannels screen in which selected channels are hidden in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 19 is a depiction of an illustrative monitor viewing screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a depiction of an illustrative browse screen in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a depiction of an illustrative set reminder screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a depiction of an illustrative select reminder screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an illustrativeapproach for setting and selecting a reminder in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 24 is a depiction of an illustrative favorite channels screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a depiction of an illustrative set recording screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a depiction of an illustrative pay-per-view movies screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a depiction of an illustrative pay-per-view select start timescreen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a depiction of an illustrative messages receiving screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a depiction of an illustrative messages sending (userentered) screen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a depiction of an illustrative messages sending (pre-set)screen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a depiction of an illustrative setup screen in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a depiction of an illustrative setup language screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a depiction of an illustrative setup audio screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a depiction of an illustrative Internet browser screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a depiction of an illustrative shopping data entry screen inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a depiction of an illustrative stock ticker data entry screenin accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An illustrative program guide system 30 in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1. Main facility 32 contains a program guidedatabase 34 for storing program guide information such as televisionprogram guide program listings data, pay-per-view ordering information,television program promotional information, etc. Information fromdatabase 34 may be transmitted to multiple television distributionfacilities such as television distribution facility 38 viacommunications links such as communications link 40. Only one suchtelevision distribution facility 38 and one communications link 40 areshown in FIG. 1 to avoid over-complicating the drawings. Link 40 may bea satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link,a microwave link, a combination of such links, or any other suitablecommunications path. If it is desired to transmit video signals (e.g.,for advertising and promotional videos) over link 40 in addition to datasignals, a relatively high bandwidth link such as a satellite link isgenerally preferable to a relatively low bandwidth link such as atelephone line.

Television distribution facility 38 is a facility for distributingtelevision signals to users, such as a cable system headend, a broadcastdistribution facility, or a satellite television distribution facilityor the like.

The program guide information transmitted by main facility 32 totelevision distribution facility 38 includes television program listingsdata such as program times, channels, titles, descriptions, etc.Transmitted program guide information may also include pay program datasuch as pricing information for individual programs and subscriptionchannels, time windows for ordering programs and channels, telephonenumbers for placing orders that cannot be impulse ordered, etc. Ifdesired, some of the program guide and advertising information may beprovided using data sources at facilities other than main facility 32.For example, data related to pay program order processing (e.g., billingdata and the like) may be generated by an order processing and billingsystem that is separate from main facility 32 and separate fromtelevision distribution facility 38. Similarly, advertising informationmay be generated by an advertising facility that is separate from mainfacility 32 and television distribution facility 38.

A server 42 may be provided in television distribution facility 38 forhandling data distribution tasks and for storing local information. Ifdesired, server 42 may be used to implement a client-server basedinteractive television program guide system. In such a system, clientfunctions may be performed at user television equipment 44. Server 42may be capable of handling text, graphics, and video.

Television distribution facility 38 distributes program guide andadvertising information to the user television equipment 44 of multipleusers via communications paths 46. Program guide data and otherinformation may be distributed over an out-of-band channel on paths 46or using any other suitable distribution technique.

Each user has a receiver, which is typically a set-top box such asset-top box 48, but which may be other suitable television equipmentinto which circuitry similar to set-top-box circuitry has beenintegrated. If desired, user television equipment 44 may be an advancedtelevision receiver or a personal computer television (PC/TV). Forpurposes of illustration, the present invention will generally bedescribed in connection with user television equipment based on aset-top box arrangement. Program guide data may be distributed toset-top boxes 48 periodically and stored or may be distributedcontinuously and handled “on the fly.”, or by request. Televisiondistribution facility 38 may poll set-top boxes 48 periodically forcertain information (e.g., pay program account information orinformation regarding programs that have been purchased and viewed usinglocally-generated authorization techniques). Main facility 32 preferablycontains a processor to handle information distribution tasks. Eachset-top box 48 preferably contains a processor to handle tasksassociated with implementing a program guide application on the set-topbox 48. Television distribution facility 38 may contain a processor fortasks associated with implementing server 42 and for handling tasksassociated with the distribution of program guide and other information.

Each set-top box 48 is may connected to an optional videocassetterecorder 50 or other suitable recording device (e.g., digital storagedevice) so that selected television programs may be recorded. Eachvideocassette recorder 50 may be connected to a television 52. To recorda program, set-top box 48 tunes to a particular channel and sendscontrol signals to videocassette recorder 50 (e.g., using an infraredtransmitter) that direct videocassette recorder 50 to start and stoprecording at the appropriate times.

During use of the interactive television program guide implemented onset-top box 48, television program listings may be displayed ontelevision 52. Each set-top box 48, videocassette recorder 50, andtelevision 52 may be controlled by one or more remote controls 54 or anyother suitable user input interface such as a wireless keyboard, mouse,trackball, dedicated set of buttons, etc.

Communications paths 46 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allowtelevision distribution facility 38 to distribute scheduled televisionprogramming, pay programming, advertising and other promotional videos,and other video information to set-top boxes 44 in addition to non-videoprogram guide data. Multiple television and audio channels (analog,digital, or both analog and digital) may be provided to set-top boxes 48via communications paths 46. If desired, program listings and otherinformation may be distributed by one or more distribution facilitiesthat are similar to but separate from television distribution facility38 using communications paths that are separate from communicationspaths 46.

Certain functions such as pay program purchasing may require set-topboxes 48 to transmit data to television distribution facility 38 overcommunications paths 46. If desired, such data may be transmitted overtelephone lines or other separate communications paths. If functionssuch as these are provided using facilities separate from televisiondistribution facility 38, some of the communications involving set-topboxes 48 may be made directly with the separate facilities.

The present invention involves the distribution of user program guidesettings to multiple program guide locations within a household. Such ahousehold may contain multiple pieces of user television equipment. Aprogram guide may be implemented on each piece of user televisionequipment. An illustrative process for distributing such settings isshown in FIG. 2. At step 500, a first program guide provides the userwith an opportunity to adjust program guide settings (e.g., programguide settings for user profiles, favorites, parental controls,reminders, recording options, pay-per-view options, message options, orother setup functions). At step 510, the system coordinates theoperation of the multiple interactive television program guides so thatthe program guide settings that were adjusted with the first interactivetelevision program guide are effective on a second interactivetelevision program guide and may be used by that second interactivetelevision program guide.

The steps of FIG. 2 are preferably performed using program guides as theprogram guides implemented on set-top boxes 48 of FIG. 1. Certainprogram guide functions (particularly the display of graphics or videos)may involve the use of resources located at main facility 32 andtelevision distribution facility 38 and other such facilities. Ifdesired, some of the steps of FIG. 2 may be performed using anapplication running on set-top boxes 48 other than the interactiveprogram guide. For clarity, the principles of the invention aredescribed in the context of an arrangement in which the set-top-basedsteps of FIG. 2 are performed primarily using an interactive televisionprogram guide.

FIGS. 3, 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 5, and 6 show various illustrative topologiesfor configuring multiple program guides within a household.

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative arrangement for interconnecting varioususer television equipment devices in accordance with the presentinvention. Primary user television equipment 60 may be connected tosecondary user television equipment 61, secondary user televisionequipment 62, and secondary user television equipment 63 viacommunication paths 64. Communications paths 64 may be any suitablecommunications path for in-home network, such as twisted pair lines,Ethernet links, fiber optics, power lines, radio-frequency (RF) links,infrared (IR) and links other wireless links, firewire (IEEE 1394)paths, dedicated cables, etc. As shown, one or more pieces of secondaryuser television equipment may be connected to primary user televisionequipment 60 in a star configuration if desired. User televisionequipment devices are typically located in different rooms within home65. For example, primary user television equipment 60 may be placed inthe parents' bedroom, secondary user television equipment 61 may beplaced in the children's room, secondary user television equipment 62may be placed in a living room, and secondary user television equipment63 may be placed in a guest room. With such an arrangement, the parents'bedroom may be used as a master location to adjust user settings for theprogram guides on the user television equipment in the children's roomand the other rooms.

FIG. 4 a shows an illustrative tree configuration in which each piece ofuser television equipment is interconnected with another along a singlepath. User television equipment 66, 67, 68, and 69 of FIG. 4 areconnected to each of the others via communications paths 70.Communications paths 70 may be any suitable communications path forin-home network, such as twisted pair lines, Ethernet links, fiberoptics, power lines, radio-frequency (RF) links, infrared (IR) and linksother wireless links, firewire (IEEE 1394) paths, dedicated cables, etc.Two or more pieces of user television equipment may be connected in thisway. The equipment mentioned above may be placed in various rooms withinhome 65. For example, user television equipment 66 may be placed in aparents' bedroom, user television equipment 67 may be placed in achildren's room, user television equipment 68 may be placed in a livingroom, user television equipment 69 may be placed in a guest room. Withthe arrangement of FIG. 4 a, each piece of user television equipment inhome 65 may communicate with each other piece of user televisionequipment in home 65 over communications paths 70. FIG. 4 a shows thesystem connected in a tree topology. If desired, this level ofinterconnectivity may be achieved using communications paths that arearranged in a ring configuration (FIG. 4 b), bus configuration (FIG. 4c) or other suitable topology. Any of these topologies may use the typesof communications paths described in connection with the arrangement ofFIG. 4 a.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative configuration based on a client-serverarchitecture. Server 80 may be connected to user television equipment81, 82, and 83 via communication paths 85. Equipment 81, 82, and 83 andserver 80 may be placed in various rooms within home 65. For example,server 80 may be placed in a den, user television equipment 81 may beplaced in a children's room, user television equipment may be placed ina living room, user television equipment 83 may be placed in a parents'room. Communication paths 85 may be any in-home network suitable totransmit video, audio and data, such as dedicated cable fiber optics,firewire links, RF links, etc. As, in the examples of FIGS. 4 a, 4 b,and 4 c, different communications path arrangements such as buses, ringsand the like, may be used to interconnect user television equipmentbased on a client-server architecture.

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative configuration based on a single set-topbox. Set-top box 90 is connected to optional videocassette recorders 91and televisions 94, 96, and 98 via communication paths 99. Optionalvideocassette recorder 91 is in turn connected to television 92. Ifdesired, any combination of televisions with or without videocassetterecorders and televisions may be connected in a similar manner. Theset-top box, videocassette recorders and televisions of FIG. 6 may beplaced in rooms within home 65. For example, set top box 90,videocassette recorder 91 and television 92 may be placed in a parent'sbedroom, television 94 may be placed in a children's room, andtelevision 96 may be placed in a living room, and television 98 may beplaced in a guest room. Communication paths 99 may be any in-homenetwork paths suitable for transmitting video, audio and data, such as,dedicated cable, fiber optics or firewire links.

FIGS. 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, 8, and 9 show illustrative configurations for theconnection between the home and the television distribution facility.Only one user television equipment device is shown in the households inFIGS. 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, 8, and 9 to avoid over-complicating the drawings.However, each household 65, 101, 102, 103, 104, 401, and 402 in FIGS. 7a, 7 b, 7 c, 8, and 9 may contain multiple pieces of user televisionequipment configured as shown in FIG. 3, 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 5, or 6.

FIG. 7 a shows an illustrative configuration in which multiple homes arehandled by a common server. Server 105 may be located at centralfacility 100. Central facility 100 may be a private home, a commercialbuilding, a network node, or other suitable structure that may beconnected to a plurality of homes. In the example of FIG. 7 a, server105 is connected to user television equipment 106, 107, 108, and 109that is located in homes 101, 102, 103, and 104, respectively viacommunication paths 700. When multiple user television equipment devicesexist within a home as shown by devices 109 a and 109 b, each usertelevision equipment device may communicate with the server 105independently via communication paths 700, alternatively only one devicemay communicate while the other communicates via a home network. Inother words, in alternative arrangements, there are either 1) multipleconnections to an outside server and each user television equipmentdevice communicates with the server independently with no need for anin-home network, or, 2) only one connection to an outside server andeach user television device communicates with each other through anin-home network.

As shown in FIG. 7 b, the capabilities of server 42 (FIG. 1) may beprovided using servers 56 located at network nodes 58. Servers such asservers 56 may be used instead of server 42 or may be used inconjunction with a server 42 located at television distribution facility38.

Graphics information for messages, advertisements and the like may bedownloaded periodically (e.g., once per day) to set-top boxes 48 of FIG.1 and stored locally. The graphics information may be accessed locallywhen needed by the program guides implemented on set-top boxes 48.Graphics information may also be provided in a continuously-loopedarrangement on one or more digital channels on paths 46. With such acontinuously-looped arrangement, a map indicating the location of thelatest graphics information may be downloaded periodically to set-topboxes 48 (e.g., once per day) or continuously. This allows the contenton the digital channels to be updated. The program guides on set-topboxes 48 may use the map to locate desired graphics information on thedigital channels. Another approach involves using a server such asserver 42 or servers 56 (FIG. 7 b) to provide the graphics informationafter a set-top box 48 and that server have negotiated to set up adownload operation. A bitmap or other suitable set of graphicsinformation may then be downloaded from the server to the set-top box.If desired, the server may download instructions informing the set-topbox where the desired graphics information can be located on aparticular digital channel. The graphics information can be updatedperiodically if the server that is responsible for downloading theinstructions for informing the set-top box of the location of thegraphics information is also updated periodically.

Text information for messages, advertisements and the like may beprovided to set-top boxes 48 using the same paths that are used fordistributing program guide data. For example, advertising data fromdatabase 36 of FIG. 1 may be provided to set-top boxes 48 using link 40,television distribution facility 38, and paths 46. The text informationmay be stored locally in set-top boxes 48 and updated periodically(e.g., once per day).

Text information, graphics information, and videos for messages,advertisements and the like may also be distributed using a combinationof these techniques or any other suitable technique.

As shown in FIG. 7 c, when a household has more than one home, the usertelevision equipment in each home may be connected by modem link orother suitable link for transferring data between homes. For example,user television equipment 403 may be connected to user televisionequipment 404 via link 405. Link 405 may use internal or externalmodems, cable modems or other communications devices suitable fortransmitting audio, video, and text data. In this manner, home 401 andhome 402 may share program guide settings.

As shown in FIG. 7 d, when a household has more than one home, the usertelevision equipment in each home may be connected via an outsideserver. For example, user television equipment 413 may be connected touser television equipment 414 via server 410. Communication paths 415may use internal or external modems, cable modems or othercommunications devices suitable for transmitting audio, video, and textdata. In this manner, home 411 and home 412 may share program guidesettings.

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative configuration in which a server isconnected to the home via the Internet. Set top boxes 122 are connectedto the Internet 110 or other suitable data network in real time usingreal-time communications devices 121. Videocassette recorders 123 may beconnected between set-top boxes 122 and televisions 124. Real-timecommunications devices 121 may be any devices suitable for maintaining aconstant open connection with network 110, such as internal or externalmodems, cable modem, or the like. The network used to connect homes totelevision distribution facility 38 may be any network suitable fordistributing video and audio data such as the Internet. Network 110 isconnected to television distribution facility 38 by communications link115 and is connected to real-time communications device 121 bycommunications links 120.

FIG. 9 shows an illustrative configuration in which user televisionequipment is linked to a server outside the home via an occasionalreturn path. Set top box 132 is connected to occasional return pathcommunications device 130 and videocassette recorder 134. Videocassetterecorder 134 may be connected to television 136. Occasional return pathcommunications device 130 may be any device suitable for connectingset-top box 132 to a server for the transfer of video and audio data,such as an internal or external modem, cable modem, or the like.Occasional return path communications device 130 server 42 which may ormay not be connected to television distribution facility 38 using acommunications path 131. Communications path 131 may be, for example, atelephone link or other non-dedicated communications path suitable forproviding an occasional return path to home 65 from server 42.

FIG. 10 shows illustrative components for user television equipment 44(FIG. 1). In the arrangement of FIG. 10, set top box 48 is connected todata input device 140. Data input device 140 may be a keyboard, keypad,or any device suitable for inputting text (wired or wireless), audio orvideo. Videocassette recorder 50 is connected to set-top box 48 andtelevision 52. Remote control 54 is used to control the operation ofset-top box 48, videocassette recorder 50, and television 52.

Further aspects of the invention are described in detail below. Forclarity, the principles of the invention described below are describedin the context of the device configuration shown in FIG. 3 and the stepsillustrated of FIG. 2, except where noted. However, the principles ofthe present invention also apply to configurations such as those shownin FIGS. 4-9. Also, the foregoing description is merely illustrative ofthe principles of this invention and various modifications can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention.

In any of the above arrangements, an interactive television programguide on each user television equipment device may provide variousfeatures for displaying television program listings information for theuser and for providing various program guide functions such as parentalcontrol, favorites, pay-per-view purchasing, etc. For example, if theuser presses the appropriate buttons on remote control 54, the user maybe presented with a time-ordered or channel-ordered grid or table oftelevision program listings or other such programming information.

With one suitable approach, the user may select one of the usertelevision equipment devices to be a master or primary device. Adjustingthe program guide settings of the master device controls these settingsfor all other devices in the household. For example, with thearrangement of FIG. 3, the user may set primary user televisionequipment 60 to be the master device. Primary user television equipment60 may be located in the parents' bedroom. This allows the head of thehousehold to control the program guide settings for all of the programguides in the household from a single location.

The system may provides the user with an opportunity to assign a masterdevice, such as user television equipment 60, that will coordinate itsprogram guide settings with other devices such as secondary usertelevision equipment 61, 62, and 63. The system also provides the userwith an opportunity to assign secondary devices.

One suitable way in which the system may allow the user to assigndevices as primary (master) and secondaries is for at least one of theprogram guides (e.g., the program guide running on set-top box 60) toprovide an assign locations screen such as assign locations screen 160of FIG. 11. Screen 160 may be accessed, for example, by first accessingmain screen 170 of FIG. 12 (by pressing, e.g., a suitable key on remotecontrol 54). After accessing screen 170, the user can use remote control54 to move highlight region 177 to the setup option 179 and select setupoption 179 by pressing a select key, enter key, “OK” key, or other suchkey (sometimes referred to herein as simply an enter key) on remotecontrol 54.

Selecting setup option 179 directs the program guide to display a setupscreen such as setup screen 310 of FIG. 31. The user can select assignlocation option 316 on setup screen 310 by moving highlight region 312and pressing the enter key. Selecting assign location option 316 directsthe program guide to display assign locations screen 160 of FIG. 11. Theuser can then move highlight region 162 to set B option 165. Selectingoption 165, directs the program guide to provide the user with anopportunity to enter a name to assign to set B. For example, the usermay use data input device 140 or remote control 54 to enter letters 164associated with the selected name. The program guide may use suchuser-defined device names when the relationship between devices is setup. For example, the user may designate the “parents room” location as amaster location and may designate the “children's room” location as aslave location.

The names of locations may be pre-set by a service provider and simplyassigned by the user. Alternately the user (or an installationtechnician), may have the ability to assign locations from the home. Thelocation name may be chosen from a list as above or typed in by the user(or an installation technician.)

In the alternative arrangement shown in FIG. 4, each piece of usertelevision equipment 66, 67, 68, and 69 is a peer. The user can assignnames to each such user television equipment device in much the same waythat names may be assigned to the secondary devices in the FIG. 3arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 14, at step 1000, the program guide may provide theuser with an opportunity to select the devices or locations for whichthe user desires to adjust settings. Step 1000 may, for example, involveproviding a screen such as select location screen 400 of FIG. 13. Atstep 1001 of FIG. 14, after the user has made a selection by movinghighlight region 155 (FIG. 13) to the desired device (e.g., parents'room option 154) and pressed the enter key, the program guide sets theselected locations. The guide may also default to a particular locationbased on the type of setting that is changed. (e.g., if a setting forthe recording of a program is changed, the guide may default to locationwith a videocassette recorder.) The guide may default to any combinationof locations based on the type of setting that is changed. There arealso “other factors” that may be used by the guide to determine at whichlocation the settings will be effective. These include: the currentlocation of the user making the adjustment, whether a location to beadjusted is currently being used, the state of other settings, etc. Atstep 1002, the program guide may return to a menu (e.g., menu 170 inFIG. 12).

The program guide may allow a unique number to be assigned to a user sothat he or she is able to access his or her program guide settings at alocation outside the home. For example, a user may visit a neighborshome to housesit while the neighbor is out of town. This user has theability to log on to the program guide at the neighbors home and accesshis or her personal program guide settings.

The program guide may allow the user to set parental controls to preventchildren from viewing potentially inappropriate material. At step 1010of FIG. 17, for example, the program guide may provide the user with anopportunity to access main screen 170 of FIG. 12. On Main screen 170,the user may use remote control 54 to move highlight region 177 to theparental control option 176 and select that option by pressing the enterkey.

At step 1011 of FIG. 17, after the user has entered a preselectedpassword 211 (FIG. 15) on enter password screen 210 of FIG. 15, theprogram guide checks the password. If the wrong password was provided atstep 1013, then the user is shown invalid password screen 212 of FIG. 15and is denied access to parental control screen 190 of FIG. 16 at step1014 of FIG. 17, and may be returned to main menu screen 170 of FIG. 12.If the user has provided a valid password at step 1012, the programguide provides various options at step 1015. At step 1015, the user canaccess parental control screen 190 of FIG. 16 and may use remote control54 to navigate between options such as set channels option 191, setmaximum rating option 193, and monitor viewing option 195. The user maynavigate to set channels screen 200 of FIG. 18 a by selecting setchannels option 191 at step 1016 of FIG. 17 by moving the highlightregion 192 and pressing select.

If the user selects set channels option 191 at step 1016, at step 1020the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to set whichchannels are to be blocked. The user may block specific channels usingremote control 54 to scroll through and select from channel options 201,202, 203, and 204 of FIG. 18 a. For example, the user may move highlightregion 207 to channel option 201 (which may be an adult channel). Theuser can then toggle between blocking and not blocking the channel bypressing the enter key on remote control 54.

In screen 200 of FIG. 18 a, a blocked channel is represented by an X.The user can choose to apply the parental controls selected in screen200 of FIG. 18 a to all locations by selecting apply to all option 205,choose to apply to the current location by selecting current locationoption 209, or can choose to apply the controls to a specific locationor locations by selecting the select locations option 206 from theoption provided by the program guide, at step 1024 of FIG. 17. The guidemay apply the settings to a default location or to a location determinedby other factors as described above.

FIG. 18 b shows an illustrative parental controls set channels screen208 that may be used when it is desired to hide controlled channelsrather than merely blocking them. When the user chooses to hide thechannels, the blocked channels do not appear on any of the programlistings display screens provided by the program guide.

The user may also navigate to a set maximum ratings screen by choosingset maximum rating option 193 of FIG. 16, at step 1017 of FIG. 17, bymoving a highlight region and pressing select. At step 1021 of FIG. 17,the user may then set a maximum rating allowed for viewing in a mannersimilar to the set channels option. For example, the user may move ahighlight region to a set maximum rating option (which may be TV-MA),then the user can enter his selected maximum using remote control 54.Next, the user can choose to apply the adjustments to all locations byselecting an apply to all option or may opt to apply the adjustments toa specific location or locations by selecting a select locations optionfrom the options provided by the program guide, at step 1024 of FIG. 17.The guide may apply the settings to a default location or to a locationdetermined by other factors as described above.

The user may navigate to monitor viewing screen 230 of FIG. 19 bychoosing the monitor viewing option 195 of FIG. 16 (step 1019 of FIG.17) by moving highlight region 192 to the monitor viewing option 195 andpressing enter.

At step 1023 of FIG. 17, the program guide at the user's location maythen, in one alternative, provide the user with monitor viewing screen230, which shows the channel that each location is currently viewing oran overlay such as a banner or small information box that shows thechannels that the other locations are viewing, but that also allows theuser to continue watching programming at the user's location. Theprogram guide at the user's location may poll the program guides atother locations within the household to determine whether anyone iscurrently viewing television and to which channels they are tuned. Themonitor viewing screen may also allow the viewing of video, audio, orstill images associated with the channel being viewed at anotherlocation. For example, the video of the remote location may be shown ina small box on the screen while the current channel's video is in thebackground.

The guide may allow the user to change the channel of a remote location.For example, a user in the parents' room may notice that the televisionin the children's room is tuned to a program the child should not bewatching. The user may change the channel without physically-going intothe child's room.

The guide may also allow a level of privacy to be set for a location sothat location cannot be monitored. For example, if guests are visiting ahousehold the monitor feature may be disallowed in the parents' room.

Other parental control features that may be distributed to remotelocations within a household include: blocking channels by title,blocking channels by time, blocking channels by content (language,nudity, etc.), blocking the ability to use a feature (e.g., reminders),blocking the ability to set and clear pin numbers, ability totemporarily disable parental controls (e.g., disabling parental controlswhile the child is at school), and the ability to set pin numbers forindividual locations or for the entire household. Additionally, theguide may have the ability to use multiple sets of parental controlsettings profiles. For example, the user may create a late night profileof parental controls and day time profile of parental controls. Theguide then allows the user to designate which parental controls profileto use and when to use it.

Another feature that may be provided by the program guide is a remindersfeature, which may be accessed by selecting reminders option 178 fromthe menu of main screen 170 of FIG. 12. The reminders feature allows theuser to set a reminder for a television program that the user wishes towatch at a later time. Just before the television program for which areminder has been set is to be broadcast, a reminder message isdisplayed on the user's television screen. Reminders may also beprovided that direct the program guide to automatically tune the user'sset-top box to the program specified in the reminder. Reminders may alsoprovide the user with an on-screen reminder when a selected programbegins and may allow the user to manually tune to the selected channel.

A family reminders option may be provided that operates similarly to thereminders functions described above and which allows reminders to be setfor a family, which may be accessed by selecting family reminders option184 from the menu of main screen 170 of FIG. 12. For example, in FIG. 7a server 105 at central facility 100 may store many family remindersettings (or other settings) for individual homes. The program guides ina particular home or household may also provide the ability to adjustfavorites settings, parental control settings, reminder settings and thelike. These settings may be named and associated with a viewinglocation, an entire home, or a group of homes.

A series reminder option may be provided that allows users to setreminders for program series. Series reminders are described in Knudsonet al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,792, filed Jun. 11, 1999,which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

An illustrative example of using the reminders feature is as follows. Ifa user at one of the program guide locations within the householdpresses an appropriate button (e.g., the enter button) after having useda browse feature (i.e., a pop-up program listing display 256) tonavigate to a program listing 257 for “Holiday Entertaining” as shown inscreen 255 of FIG. 20, the program guide at that location may presentthe user with set reminder screen 350 of FIG. 21. Set reminder screen350 allows the user to choose to set a reminder for the selected program352 (Holiday Entertaining) by selecting yes option 354 with highlightregion 356 shown at step 1030 of FIG. 23. If the user selects no option358, set reminder screen 350 is canceled. If set reminder screen 350 isnot canceled, the user select the program guide locations (i.e., thelocations of the various user television equipment devices within thehousehold) to which the adjustments are to be applied by selecting applyto all option 205, current location option 209, or by selecting theselect locations option 206 (step 1031, FIG. 23) and interacting withvarious sub-menus listing the available locations from which to choose.Set reminder screen 350 and other such screens in the program guide mayuse either a full-screen or partial-screen display format. After theuser selects the program guide locations to which the reminders are tobe applied, the program guide at the user's location communicates withthe program guides at the user-selected locations. During thiscommunication process, the program guide at the user's location directsthe other program guides to set reminders for display at their locationsjust before the scheduled broadcast time of the program. If desired, theprogram guide at the user's location can communicate with the programguides at the selected locations using other suitable techniques. Forexample, the program guide at the user's location may issue instructionsto the program guides at the selected locations just before thescheduled broadcast time of the program for which the reminder was setthat causes those program guides to display a reminder message at thattime. These approaches are merely illustrative. Any other suitableapproach for communicating the reminders settings or any other programguide settings from the program guide at the user's location to theother program guides may be used if desired.

A short time before the scheduled broadcast time of the program forwhich a reminder has been set, the program guide at each selectedlocation may display a reminder display region 361 on the televisionscreen 360 at that location (Step 1032; FIG. 23), as shown in FIG. 22.Reminder display region 361 may be displayed as a partial screen overlayover the currently displayed television channel (e.g., channel 9). Inthe example of FIG. 22, two reminders were set for the 10:00 AM timeslot. As a result, reminder display region 361 contains program listingsfor both selected programs. A user at any of the program guide locationsin which the reminder is displayed may automatically tune to one of theselected programs by moving highlight region 362 from hide remindersoption 363 to program listing 364 or program listing 365. When the userat that location presses the select button, the set-top box 48 at thatlocation tunes to the channel of the selected program (step 1033, FIG.23). If the user selects hide reminders option 363, reminder displayregion 361 is hidden from view. Additionally, reminders may be set toautomatically tune to a particular channel without accessing a reminderdisplay region. For example, a parent would have the ability to insurethat the children's television automatically tunes to an educationalprogram by setting a reminder for that program.

In addition to the opportunity to set reminders, the user may beprovided the opportunity to create profiles to customize the viewingexperience, which may be accessed by selecting profiles option 183 fromthe menu of main screen 170 of FIG. 12. For example, if desired, theprogram guides may allow each user to establish a profile of settingsand other criteria as described, for example, in commonly-assigned Elliset al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,934, filed Mar. 4, 1998,which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Withsuch an approach, users may establish profiles of preferences such astheir favorite channels, preferred genres of programming (sports,comedy, etc.), favorite actors, desired or required ratings, etc. Inaccordance with the present invention, one of the program guides mayprovide the user with an opportunity to apply this profile to alllocations or to apply such settings to a specific program guide locationor locations. The guide may apply the profile to a default location orto a location determined by other factors as described above.

The user may also be provided the opportunity to set favorite channels.The program guide at the user's location may display a menu such as themenu of main screen 170 of FIG. 12. The user may then use remote control54 to navigate to the favorites option 175 using remote control 54 andpressing the enter button.

Once the user chooses favorites option 175, the program guide at theuser's location may present the user with a favorite channels screensuch as favorite channels screen 250 of FIG. 24. The user may movehighlight region 207 to a channel such as channel option 251 of screen250 (which may be a local news channel), channel option 252 of screen250, channel option 253 of screen 250, or channel option 254 of screen250. The user can then toggle between selecting and not selecting thatchannel by pressing the enter key on remote control 54. In the exampleof FIG. 24, a favorite channel is represented by an X. Next, the usercan choose to apply the selected favorites settings to various otherprogram guide locations by selecting apply to all option 205, apply toselect locations option 206, or apply to current location 209. If theuser chooses the apply to select locations option 206, the program guideat the user's location provides the user with menu screens from which toselect the desired locations to which the favorites settings are to beapplied. The desired locations may be set by default or other factors asdescribed above. A parent may want to prevent children from even seeingthe titles of objectionable programming.

The user may be provided with an opportunity to select programs forrecording at a later time. For example, if the user presses anappropriate button (e.g., a “record” button) after having used a browsefeature to navigate to a program listing for “Holiday Entertaining” asshown in FIG. 20, the program guide at the user's location may presentthe user with a set recording screen such as set recording screen 270 ofFIG. 25. Set recording screen 270 allows the user to set a selectedprogram 274 (Holiday Entertaining) for recording by the program guide byselecting yes option 272 with highlight region 271. If the user selectsno option 273, set recording screen 270 is canceled.

If a household has only one videocassette recorder 50, there will onlybe one location that will make all recordings, regardless of whichlocation the recordings are set from. If there are multiplevideocassette recorders, the user may be presented with select locationscreen 400 of FIG. 13 after selecting the yes option 272, that providesthe user with an opportunity to select the location that will make therecording. If desired multiple locations may be selected. The guide maychoose which VCR is used based on which VCR is busy or based on otherfactors.

At the scheduled broadcast time of the program to be recorded, theprogram guide at each selected location causes videocassette recorder 50to begin recording. After the scheduled completion of the broadcast ofthe recorded program, each program guide causes its videocassetterecorder 50 to stop recording. The guides may cause videocassetterecorders 50 to stop and start recording by sending an IR signal to thevideocassette recorders IR input or by, any other suitable method fortransmitting a signal to a videocassette recorder.

A series recording option may also be provided that allows users torecord program series. Series recording is described in theabove-mentioned Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/330,792, filed Jun. 11, 1999.

Another example of a program guide feature that benefits fromcoordination between multiple program guide devices in a household ispay-per-view ordering.

The user may be provided with an opportunity to order pay-per-viewprogramming with a program guide display screen such as main screen 170of FIG. 12. The user may use remote control 54 to select thepay-per-view by time option 181.

The user may select a program to order from a screen such aspay-per-view screen 290 of FIG. 26 using remote control 54 to navigatethrough program options. For example, the user may move highlight region291 to program listing 292 (which may be for the movie “Volcano”scheduled to be aired at 10:00 PM). The user may then select the programby pressing the enter button on remote control 54. Pay-per-view orderingscreens such as pay-per-view ordering screen 370 of FIG. 27 may be usedto allow the user to view information on channel 371 on which theprogram is scheduled to be broadcast, rating 377, price 378 (shownillustratively as involving a surcharge for availability at additionallocations within the household), and various available broadcast times373, 374, and 376. A cancel option 372 allows the user to cancelpay-per-view ordering. The user may select cancel option 372 or a givenbroadcast time 373, 374, or 376 by placing highlight region 375 on topof the desired option and pressing enter. The user may choose to makethe selected program available to various locations within the householdby selecting the select locations option 206. Alternatively, the guidemay make the program available to a default location or to a locationdetermined by other factors as described above.

The program guide system may support a messages option, which may beaccessed by selecting messages option 174 from the menu of main screen170 of FIG. 12. Messages may be sent from the service provider attelevision distribution facility 38 (FIG. 1) and may relate, e.g., tobilling matters, general concerns, service issues, etc. Messages may besent to the main facility or other locations by the Internet orelectronic messages or other suitable means. Messages may appear on thetelevision screen of television 52 when received. The appearance may,for example, be in a text box at the bottom of the screen. The user maybe provided a list of messages that may be viewed and choose one toview. An indicator may also appear showing that unread messages exist. Amessages receiving screen such as messages receiving screen 300 of FIG.28 may be provided that allows, the user to navigate through a tablerelating various locations with various types of messaging. For example,the user may move highlight region 301 to the option relating tomessages of the billing type for the children's room location. Byhitting the enter key the user may toggle between turning such messageson and off. If, in this example, messages are turned on, the children'sroom would receive billing messages. If messages are turned off, thechildren's room would not receive billing messages.

A user may have the ability to send text, audio, graphics or videomessages between locations. On Messages sending screen 340 of FIG. 29,the user may use data input device 140 (FIG. 10) to type a text messagein the message entry section 343. Alternately the user may enter audiomessages through, for example, using a microphone as a data input deviceor video with a camera device. The user can select which location tosend the message to by moving highlight region 341 to location option342 (which may be the children's room). For example, a parent in thedownstairs master bedroom may send a message telling the child in theupstairs bedroom to come down for dinner or to do their homework. [[Ifdesired,]] Messages sending screen 379 of FIG. 30 may provide the userwith an opportunity to select from pre-existing text messages 380.Pre-existing messages 380 may have been previously stored by a user orpre-set by the manufacturer. Messages may be transmitted between programguides at different locations within the household using any suitablecommunications technique such as e-mail protocols or any methoddescribed in connection with the above discussion of various topologies.

The program guide system may also provide the user with an opportunityto set device control options. For example, the user may access mainscreen 170 of FIG. 12, and use remote control 54 to choose the setupoption 179 by using the remote control 54 to scroll to the setup option179 and pressing the enter button. The user can then select audio option312 on setup screen 310 of FIG. 31 by moving highlight region 313 andpressing the enter button. Next, on the setup audio screen 330 of FIG.33, the user may move highlight region 332 to set volume option 331. Theuser may use remote control 54 to adjust the volume upwards ordownwards. For example, parents may wish to turn down the volume on thekids television. The user may choose to apply the adjustments made onscreen 330 to all locations by selecting apply to all option 205, to thecurrent location by selecting apply to current location option 209, ormay choose to apply adjustments to a specific location or locations byselecting the select locations option 206. Alternatively, the guide mayapply the settings to a default location or to a location determined byother factors as described above.

Other device options, such as, video option 314 and closed-captioning(CC) option 315 may be set from screen 310 of FIG. 31. After the userhas chosen a location to which the settings may be applied, the user mayname the location by selecting name location option 317.

Another program guide option that may be coordinated within thehousehold is an option for selecting languages. From setup screen 310 ofFIG. 31, the user may also select language option 311 by movinghighlight region 313 and pressing the enter button. On setup languagescreen 320 of FIG. 32 or other such screen, the user may move highlightregion 321 to select a language (which may be German). The user may useremote control 54 to select the chosen language. The user may choose toapply the adjustments to all locations by selecting apply to all option205, choose to apply adjustments to a specific location or locations byselecting the select locations option 206, or choose to apply to thecurrent location by selecting current location option 209.Alternatively, the guide may apply the settings to a default location orto a location determined by other factors as described above. Theselected language may be used by the program guide when displayingprogram guide screens that contain text or audio, as described in Elliset al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/354,602, filed concurrentlyherewith, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

Data files may be used to transmit program guide settings. When aparticular program guide retrieves program guide settings adjustmentsfor the user, this data may be transmitted to the central facility or toanother program guide via the return path in a two-way cable link, viamodem link, or via any other suitable communications path. The settingsmay be stored at a server or on any on of the program guides in ahousehold. For example, in the configuration of FIG. 3, program guidesettings adjustments collected at secondary user television equipment61, may be stored at primary user television equipment 60. Similarly,set top box 90 of FIG. 6 may store program guide settings fortelevisions 92, 94, 96, and 98. In the configuration of FIGS. 4 a, 4 b,and 4 c, program guide settings adjustments collected at user televisionequipment 66 may be stored at any one of user television equipmentdevices 66, 67, 68, or 69. In the configuration of FIGS. 7 a and 7 b,program guide settings that are shared such as family reminders may bestored on any one of servers 56, server 105, or server 42. Program guidesettings may be transmitted periodically or when a data transfer isrequested by a a particular piece of user television equipment or thecentral facility. Certain communications protocols may be particularlysuitable for certain topologies of user television equipment devices.For example, if the user television equipment devices are arranged in aring topology, a token ring communications protocol may be used tointerconnect the program guides. A bus protocol may be used for a bustopology, etc.

An advantage of using an in home network is sharing of data amongdevices within the home. For example, a listing may be stored on onlyone device, freeing space for other settings to be stored on otherdevices.

Messaging information may be transmitted to or from the central facilityvia the return path in a two-way cable link, via modem link, or via anyother suitable communications path. The type of message may determinewhere the message is stored. Messages sent by the central facility maygenerally be stored at the central facility. Messages generated by auser may be stored at the user television equipment that stores theuser's other program guide settings.

The discussion thus far has focused on implementing the invention withan interactive television program guide. The invention may also beapplied to non-program-guide applications. These non-program-guideapplications run on user television equipment such as a set-top box. Forexample, an Internet browser may be run on a set-top box connected to atelevision. Internet application settings can be coordinated amongtelevisions and/or set-top boxes within a household in the same way thatprogram guide settings are coordinated among program guides in thehouse.

One non-program-guide application that may be implemented in accordancewith the present invention is an Internet browser. An Internet browsermay have settings such as bookmarks, parental control settings, andgeneral preferences that control how the browser functions. As shown inFIG. 34, a browser application screen 700, may have a bookmark option705. After adding a bookmark, the system allows the bookmark and othersettings to be effective on other locations in the household. Forexample, a user may select bookmark option 705 and add a bookmark (i.e.,a record of the address of the current web site that can be used toaccess the site). Through a network, in accordance with the presentinvention, the application can make the bookmark effective on otherlocations in the household. Accordingly, the user can choose to applysettings adjustments to all locations by selecting an apply to alloption or may opt to apply the adjustments to a specific location orlocations by selecting a select locations option from the optionsprovided by the program guide. The guide may apply the settings to adefault location or to a location determined by other factors asdescribed above.

Another application that may be implemented in accordance with thepresent invention is an shopping application. A shopping application mayhave settings such as a default shipping address, and credit cardnumber. As shown in FIG. 35, a shopping application screen 730, hassettings such as a shipping address 720, and credit card number 725.After adding a shipping and credit card information, the system allowsthe shipping address, credit card number and other settings to beeffective on other locations in the household. For example, a user canadd a shipping address. Through a network, in accordance with thepresent invention, the application can make the shipping addresseffective on other locations in the household. Accordingly, the user canchoose to apply settings adjustments to all locations by selecting anapply to all option or may opt to apply the adjustments to a specificlocation or locations by selecting a select locations option from theoptions provided by the program guide. The guide may apply the settingsto a default location or to a location determined by other factors asdescribed above.

Another non-program-guide application that may be implemented on usertelevision equipment and coordinated with other such applications inaccordance with the present invention is a stock ticker. A stock tickermay have settings such as settings indicating the top 10 stocks in whichthe user is interested. As shown in FIG. 36, a stock ticker settingsscreen 710 has a ticker symbol 712 and a top 10 stocks option 715. Forexample, a user may add a top stock. Then, through a network, inaccordance with the present invention, the application can make the top10 stock settings effective on other locations in the household.Accordingly, the user can choose to apply the adjustments to alllocations by selecting an apply to all option or may opt to apply theadjustments to a specific location or locations by selecting a selectlocations option from the options provided by the program guide. Theguide may apply the settings to a default location or to a locationdetermined by other factors as described above.

A chat application may be implemented on user television equipment suchas a set top box. Chat applications are services that allow users toexchange chat messages with other users in real time. A chat applicationmay be implemented as a stand-alone chat application or as part ofanother application such as a program guide application. A user mayadjust settings associated with a chat application such as the size of achat window or whether to filter potentially offensive messages. Chatapplications that may be implemented on user television equipment aredescribed in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/356,270, filed concurrently herewith, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. After the user adjusts chat settings,the user can choose to apply the chat settings adjustments to alllocations by selecting an apply to all option or may opt to apply theadjustments to a specific location or locations by selecting a selectlocations option. Settings may be coordinated between the chatapplications using options provided by the chat application. The chatapplication may apply the settings to a default location or to alocation determined by other factors as described above.

If desired, the settings of an e-mail application running on differentuser television equipment devices in the household may be coordinated.When the user adjusts the e-mail settings associated with one usertelevision equipment device, the system coordinates the operation of theother e-mail applications so that the adjusted e-mail settings may beused by the other e-mail applications.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for viewing a program, the methodcomprising: generating a display of a video associated with a program ata first equipment device coupled to a second equipment device, whereinthe video generated for display at the first equipment device istransmitted concurrently to a plurality of equipment devices while thevideo is generated for display at the first equipment device;transmitting, independently of receiving user input at the firstequipment device, an identification of the program, from the firstequipment device to the second equipment device, while the videoassociated with the program is generated for display at the firstequipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to:receive the identification of the program from the first equipmentdevice; receive, independently of the first equipment device, a userinput that requests to view the identified program using the secondequipment device; and generate a display of the video associated withthe program in response to receiving the user input.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the identification identifies the first equipmentdevice.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving aninstruction from the second equipment device to change the videoassociated with the program generated for display by the first equipmentdevice; and changing the video associated with the program generated fordisplay by the first equipment device in response to receiving theinstruction.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein changing furthercomprises tuning the first equipment device away from the channel of theprogram.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein changing further comprisesturning off the first equipment device.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining whether the second equipment device isauthorized to monitor the first equipment device; and generating adisplay of the video associated with the program in response todetermining that the second equipment device is authorized to monitorthe first equipment device.
 7. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: receiving authorization information from the secondequipment device; verifying the authorization information; andgenerating a display of the video associated with the program inresponse to verifying the authorization information.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the authorization information comprises a password. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein a first interactive program guideimplemented on the first equipment device transmits the identificationof the program to a second interactive program guide implemented on thesecond equipment device.
 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:receiving, at the first equipment device, a communication from thesecond equipment device requesting identification of the programgenerated for display on the first equipment device, and transmittingthe identification of the program, from the first equipment device tothe second equipment device, in response to receiving the communication.11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second equipment device generatesa display of the identification of the program received from the firstequipment device.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein an interactiveprogram guide implemented on the second equipment device generates adisplay of the received identification as an overlay over anotherprogram currently being viewed using the second equipment device.
 13. Amethod for identifying a program generated for display on anotherequipment device, the method comprising: generating a display of a videoassociated with a program at a first equipment device coupled to asecond equipment device, wherein the video generated for display at thefirst equipment device is transmitted concurrently to a plurality ofequipment devices while the video is generated for display at the firstequipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to:receive, independently of the first equipment device, a user input thatrequests to identify the program corresponding to the video generatedfor display at the first equipment device; cause the first equipmentdevice to transmit, independently of receiving user input at the firstequipment device, while the video associated with the program isgenerated for display at the first equipment device, identificationinformation for the program corresponding to the video generated fordisplay at the first equipment device to the second equipment device;and generate a display of the identification information for the programcorresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipmentdevice on the second equipment device in response to receiving theidentification information.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein thesecond equipment device is further configured to generate the display ofidentification information by generating a display of at least one ofthe channel, title, and rating of the video associated with the programgenerated for display.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:receiving an instruction from the second equipment device to change thevideo associated with the program generated for display by the firstequipment device; and changing the video associated with the programgenerated for display by the first equipment device in response toreceiving the instruction.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein changingfurther comprises tuning the first equipment device away from thechannel of the program.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein changingfurther comprises turning off the first equipment device.
 18. The methodof claim 13, further comprising: determining whether the secondequipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device,wherein the display of the identification information is generated inresponse to determining that the second equipment device is authorizedto monitor the first equipment device.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising: receiving authorization information from the secondequipment device; and verifying the authorization information, whereinthe display of the identification information is generated in responseto verifying the authorization information.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein the authorization information comprises a password.
 21. A systemfor viewing a program, the system comprising: a first equipment deviceconfigured to: generate, at the first equipment device, a display of avideo associated with a program, wherein the first equipment device iscoupled to a second equipment device, wherein the video generated fordisplay at the first equipment device is transmitted concurrently to aplurality of equipment devices while the video is generated for displayat the first equipment device; and transmit, independently of receivinguser input at the first equipment device, an identification of theprogram to the second equipment device while the video associated withthe program is generated for display at the first equipment device,wherein the second equipment device is configured to: receive,independently of the first equipment device, a user input that requeststo view the identified program on the second equipment device; andgenerate a display of the video associated with the program in responseto receiving the user input.
 22. The system of claim 21, wherein thesecond equipment device is further configured to provide an indicationthat the first equipment device is generating a display of the videoassociated with the program.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein theindication identifies the first equipment device.
 24. The system ofclaim 21, wherein the first equipment device is further configured to:receive an instruction from the second equipment device to change thevideo associated with the program generated for display by the firstequipment device; and change the video associated with the programgenerated for display by the first equipment device in response toreceiving the instruction.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein thesecond equipment device is further configured to instruct a tuner totune the first equipment device away from the channel of the program.26. The system of claim 24, wherein the second equipment device isfurther configured to turn off the first equipment device.
 27. Thesystem of claim 21, wherein the first equipment device is furtherconfigured to: determine whether the second equipment device isauthorized to monitor the first equipment device; and authorize thesecond equipment device to generate a display of the video associatedwith the program in response to determining that the second equipmentdevice is authorized to monitor the first equipment device.
 28. Thesystem of claim 27, wherein the first equipment device is furtherconfigured to: receive authorization information from the secondequipment device; verify the authorization information; and authorizethe second equipment device to generate a display of the videoassociated with the program in response to verifying the authorizationinformation.
 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the authorizationinformation comprises a password.
 30. The system of claim 21, wherein afirst interactive program guide implemented on the first equipmentdevice transmits the identification of the program to a secondinteractive program guide implemented on the second equipment device.31. The system of claim 21, wherein the first equipment device isfurther configured to: receive a communication from the second equipmentdevice requesting identification of the program generated for display onthe first equipment device, and transmit the identification of theprogram in response to receiving the communication.
 32. The system ofclaim 21, wherein the second equipment device is further configured togenerate a display of the identification of the program received fromthe first equipment device.
 33. The system of claim 21, wherein aninteractive program guide implemented on the second equipment devicegenerates a display of the received identification as an overlay overanother program currently being viewed using the second equipmentdevice.
 34. A system for identifying a program generated for display onanother equipment device, the system comprising: a first equipmentdevice configured to: generate a display of a video associated with aprogram, wherein the first equipment device is coupled to a secondequipment device, wherein the video generated for display at the firstequipment device is transmitted concurrently to a plurality of equipmentdevices while the video is generated for display at the first equipmentdevice; receive a request to identify the program corresponding to thevideo generated for display at the first equipment device from thesecond equipment device, wherein the second equipment device receives auser input that requests to identify the program independently of thefirst equipment device; and responsive to receiving the request toidentify the program from the second equipment device, transmit,independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, tothe second equipment device, while the video associated with the programis generated for display at the first equipment device, identificationinformation for the program corresponding to the video generated fordisplay at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipmentdevice is configured to generate a display of the identificationinformation for the program corresponding to the video generated fordisplay at the first equipment device in response to receiving theidentification information.
 35. The system of claim 34, wherein theidentification information further comprises at least one of thechannel, title, and rating of the video associated with the programgenerated for display.
 36. The system of claim 34, wherein the firstequipment device is further configured to: receive an instruction fromthe second equipment device to change the video associated with theprogram generated for display by the first equipment device; and changethe video associated with the program generated for display by the firstequipment device in response to receiving the instruction.
 37. Thesystem of claim 36, wherein the second equipment device is furtherconfigured to instruct a tuner to tune the first equipment device awayfrom the channel of the program.
 38. The system of claim 36, wherein thesecond equipment device is further configured to turn off the firstequipment device.
 39. The system of claim 34, wherein: the firstequipment device is further configured to determine whether the secondequipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device;and the second equipment device is further configured to generate thedisplay of the identification information in response to the firstequipment device determining that the second equipment device isauthorized to monitor the first equipment device.
 40. The system ofclaim 39, wherein: the first equipment device is further configured to:receive authorization information from the second equipment device; andverify the authorization information; and the second equipment device isfurther configured to generate the display of the identificationinformation in response to the first equipment device verifying theauthorization information.
 41. The system of claim 40, wherein theauthorization information comprises a password.
 42. A method for viewinga program, the method comprising: generating a display of a videoassociated with a program at a first equipment device coupled to asecond equipment device; transmitting, independently of receiving userinput at the first equipment device, an identification of the program,from the first equipment device to the second equipment device, whilethe video associated with the program is generated for display at thefirst equipment device, wherein the second equipment device isconfigured to: receive the identification of the program from the firstequipment device; receive, independently of the first equipment device,a user input that requests to view the identified program using thesecond equipment device; and generate a display of the video associatedwith the program in response to receiving the user input, wherein thefirst equipment device is located in a home, and wherein theidentification of the program is received by the second equipment deviceat a remote location not in the home.
 43. A system for viewing aprogram, the system comprising: a first equipment device configured to:generate, at the first equipment device, a display of a video associatedwith a program, wherein the first equipment device is coupled to asecond equipment device; and transmit, independently of receiving userinput at the first equipment device, an identification of the program tothe second equipment device while the video associated with the programis generated for display at the first equipment device; wherein thesecond equipment device is configured to: receive, independently of thefirst equipment device, a user input that requests to view theidentified program on the second equipment device; and generate adisplay of the video associated with the program in response toreceiving the user input, wherein the first equipment device is locatedin a home, and wherein the identification of the program is received bythe second equipment device at a remote location not in the home.
 44. Amethod for identifying a program generated for display on anotherequipment device, the method comprising: generating a display of a videoassociated with a program at a first equipment device coupled to asecond equipment device, wherein the second equipment device isconfigured to: receive, independently of the first equipment device, auser input that requests to identify the program corresponding to thevideo generated for display at the first equipment device; receive fromthe first equipment device, independently of receiving user input at thefirst equipment device, while the video associated with the program isgenerated for display at the first equipment device, identificationinformation for the program corresponding to the video generated fordisplay at the first equipment device with the second equipment device;and generate a display of the identification information for the programcorresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipmentdevice on the second equipment device in response to receiving theidentification information, wherein the first equipment device islocated in a home, and wherein the identification is transmittedresponsive to the first equipment device receiving a request to transmitthe identification from a remote location not in the home.
 45. A systemfor identifying a program generated for display on another equipmentdevice, the system comprising: a first equipment device configured to:generate a display of a video associated with a program, wherein thefirst equipment device is coupled to a second equipment device; receivea request to identify the program corresponding to the video generatedfor display at the first equipment device from the second equipmentdevice, wherein the second equipment device receives a user input thatrequests to identify the program independently of the first equipmentdevice; and transmit, independently of receiving user input at the firstequipment device, to the second equipment device, while the videoassociated with the program is generated for display at the firstequipment device, identification information for the programcorresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipmentdevice, wherein the second equipment device is configured to generate adisplay of the identification information for the program correspondingto the video generated for display at the first equipment device inresponse to receiving the identification information, wherein the firstequipment device is located in a home, and wherein the identification istransmitted responsive to the first equipment device receiving a requestto transmit the identification from a remote location not in the home.46. A method comprising: generating, at a first equipment device, adisplay of a video associated with a program, wherein the firstequipment device is coupled to a second equipment device, wherein thevideo generated for display at the first equipment device is transmittedconcurrently to a plurality of equipment devices while the video isgenerated for display at the first equipment device; receiving, at thefirst equipment device from a second equipment device, a request toidentify the program corresponding to the video generated for display atthe first equipment device, wherein the second equipment device receivesa user input that requests to identify the program independently of thefirst equipment device; and responsive to receiving the request toidentify the program from the second equipment device, transmitting tothe second equipment device, independently of receiving user input atthe first equipment device, while the video associated with the programis generated for display at the first equipment device, identificationinformation for the program corresponding to the video generated fordisplay at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipmentdevice is configured to generate a display of the identificationinformation for the program corresponding to the video generated fordisplay at the first equipment device in response to receiving theidentification information.